Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.

Face claim for Clarice de' Medici - Synnøve Karlsen.

Chapter One Hundred & Twenty: Loss of a Sister.

25th of July 1543 - Palace of Whitehall, London

Queen Anne smiled to herself as she stood within the gardens, her eyes focused ahead on the sight of her three sons; knowing that she had been so blessed, her boys were growing up so quickly and she wished she had more time with them. The Prince of Wales had been recalled from Ludlow, King Henry seeming eager to see his eldest son and ensure he was gaining the proper education befitting the future King of England and Ireland. At eleven years old, Alexander was the imagine of his father in his youth, no doubt he was the most handsome prince in all of Christendom and from what Queen Anne had heard, Princess Anne of Denmark was a beauty herself.

The Duke of York, was clearly a Boleyn, favouring his mother's looks and was smart as a whip from what his tutor reported to Queen Anne. At six years old, Geoffrey had yet to make a match but talks continued with the hopes that perhaps Princess Mary of Scotland might one day be betrothed to the second son. The Duke of Pembroke was a York in his looks, like his older siblings he was a smart child and excelled at languages with French and Latin being favourited by the youngest prince who conversed well with the Princess Elizabeth.

Queen Anne would not deny that she was honoured to see her former title revived for their youngest son, Edward who was now four years old and growing like a weed. Like Geoffrey no match had been proposed for the youngest Tudor boy, although King Henry had announced that Edward would have an English match; with a possible suggestion of the young Lady Maud Herbert as a match.

Maud's aunt was Lady Latimer the recent widow of John Neville, 3rd Baron Latimer who had passed only a few months earlier; who currently served as governess to Princess Elizabeth. Queen Anne knew that her days with her eldest daughter was growing fewer, there would come a day in the near future when her daughter would board a ship for Sweden and would never return. Her letters with her intended continued just as Alexander wrote to his, Elizabeth spoke with Prince Eric; Anne encouraging her eldest daughter in the language that she would one day share with her husband.

"Your Majesty, there's a letter for you," Madge Shelton murmured approaching the Queen, a letter in her hand and a solemn look upon her face as she came to a stop only feet from Queen Anne. The letter had been handed to her by one of the Seymour brothers, who had received it upon it's arrival at court and insisted that it be brought to the Queen urgently.

"It's from Mary. I'll read it later," Queen Anne dismissed knowing that she had been expecting a letter from her sister in the coming days, it had been so long since she had seen Mary but ill health had kept the older Boleyn daughter away from court for years now. Queen Anne wished that she could see her sister, she longed for the three siblings to be reunited especially in the face of everything that they had done; their father's legacy secure and he would have been proud of each of them.

"No, it's from the Earl of Buckingham," Madge stated looking down at the letter, she could barely bring herself to look at Lady Catherine Knollys made her way over to her royal aunt. Lady Knollys was back at court serving her royal aunt, having only just recently returned to court after the birth of Henry who had been named for the King. Her husband had been thrilled to have an heir, insisting that their second child and first son should be named for the King to honour him while their daughter had been named for Lady Knollys mother.

"Will you read it?" Queen Anne requested of her cousin, a sinking feeling in her stomach as she thought of why the Earl would be writing to her instead of Mary; her hands reaching out for Lady Knollys to take in comfort. Madge nodded her head, carefully opening the letter and took a deep breath as her eyes cast over the contents before she cleared her throat.

"On Tuesday the 19th, my wife passed peacefully in her sleep, seemingly slipping away from the pain and illness that has so plagued her these last years," Madge said, her voice quiet as she broke the dreadful news to the Queen about her sister. Lady Knollys pulled away from the Queen, tears running down her face at the news that her beloved mother had passed; her hand covering her mouth to quieten the sobs that threatened to consume her. The fact that she hadn't gotten to tell her mother that she was expecting again, that she and Francis would have another baby in the winter and she would be a grandmother for the third time.

"As you know, Mary desired above all a quiet life in the country and hated the attention that court brought… so in accordance with her wishes, she was buried this day passed in the chapel on the estates grounds," Madge continued, her own voice breaking and she found it hard to say the words that had been written. Mary Boleyn had been forty-four, barely a few years older than Madge herself and they had served as ladies in waiting together for many years before Mary had married and retire from court.

Queen Anne squeezed her eyes shut, shoving down the anger and sadness that she felt at the news of her dear sister's passing; they had lived so very different lives and she could not help but feel angry that she had been denied a chance to say goodbye. Queen Anne turned away from Madge, looking to her own sons and tried to distract herself from the deep pain that she felt knowing that Mary was gone.

She wondered how her mother had taken the news, Elizabeth Boleyn had been visiting with George at Hever from what Anne could recall knowing that work was being done on the former Boleyn home that acted as Elizabeth's principle residence. Perhaps, they too would feel robbed in not getting to say goodbye to Mary, that William had kept it so quiet and secretive that they hadn't even been able to attend her funeral.

Anne tried to squish the thoughts that made her questions if he had killed her sister, perhaps to gain a new and younger wife that might give him more children. William was not Henry, he had been devoted to Mary since he had set eyes on her, so thankful for Anne's actions that had allowed them to be wed; that she had supported her sister in a match that would have never been accepted for her. Taking a shaky breath, Anne tried to gather herself but was unable to stop the tears from falling; wishing that she could have been there to say goodbye to Mary.

Palacio de Pimentel, Valladolid, Crown of Castile

Staring at himself in the mirror, King Philip took a deep breath as he eyed his appearance making sure that there was not a hair out of place and that everything was perfect. The regency council that had been headed by his mother had come to an end, from today he was on his own ruling by his own divine right. His mother had done her best to govern the Spanish realms since the passing of his father and his grandmother, Isabella insisting that Philip attend many sessions of council and learn from seeing her govern.

There were many that had been displeased with his mother's efforts, especially with the loss of Naples even if Maria had been engaged to the new King and was expected to marry him in the coming year. Philip wrote often with his sister, they had shared a nursery for years just the two of them and he had been saddened when she had left for her future in Naples three years ago.

Maria told him how kind her intended was, she offered advice and encouragement especially in the face of his own engagement to Yolande of France and his accession to the throne. Philip nodded at himself in the mirror, at least satisfied with what he was seeing before he turned on his heel and made his way out of his chambers; he tried to hold himself tall, wanting to impose an impressive figure that his father once had. Emperor Charles had left a shadow that Philip doubted that he could live up to, his father had tried to shape him into a strong man that could rule the realms as well as he did. The council stood as Philip entered the room, many curious to see how the King would handle the position that he now held.

"My lords shall we begin," King Philip stated looking around the table of the wise men that his own father had counted on when he had ruled; there was much to be done and Philip wished to continue his mother's hard work. The time for war was over, he would not see his realms brought to the brink by bloodshed and he knew that there would be many who would see him as weak for not declaring against those who had fought against his father.

I recommend Bed of Deceit by BellalunaMcKenzie, For Even as Love Crowns You by wizardfantasy and Sanctuary by Cattyfan. Also check out My Lord Husband, The Enemy by Esme24, That Subtle Wreath by EvilFluffyBiteyThing and its sequel, A Progress in Kent.

Please Review, Favourite and Follow x